Film handling apparatus



June 13, 1944.

O. W. WILSON ETAL FILM HANDLING APIPARATUS Filed Sept. 21, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 119 INVENToRs.

OUVER WH/TWHL WILJON wlmi/v DUNHAM fos TER F3113 www A rroRNer.

June 13, 1944. v Q wlLsON ETAL 2,351,088

' FLM HANDLING APPARATUS l Filed Sept. 21, 1940 l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 g INVENTUM. si OLIVER WHITWELL WILSON :E WARRIN DUNHAM FOSTER .MLU

v ATTORNEY.

p Jun'e 13, 1944. o. w. wlLsoN Erm. 2,351,088

' FILM HANDLING APPARATUS OLIVik WHITWELL Wil-JON WARREN DUNHAM FOSTER ATTORNEY.

`lune 13, 1944.

O. W. WILSON ET.AL

FILM HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 2l, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOM OLIVE@ WH/TWELL W/LON WARREN DU/VHAM FOJTER BY ATTORNEY June 13,4 1944. .Q w, WILSON ET AL 2,351,088

` FILM HANDLING APPARATUS Filed sept. 21, 1940 1o sheets-sheet 5 INVENToRs. oms@ wHzTwfLL wfzsaN WARREN Dz/NHAM fosrsfe ATTORNEY.

June 13, 1944. Q w. wlLsON ETAL 2,351,088

FILM 'HANDLING APPARATUS K Filed sept. 21, 1940 1o sheets-sheet 6 4l? 1 I 415 i 41| 41o 4ta ,412 d 415 as] /30251 10G. 14

F-igl 0- IN VEN TORS. 596 OLIVER WHJTWLL WILSON BV//ARRN Dl/NHAM FQJTER A TTRNEY.

' June-13, 1944. o, w, WILSON ETAL.'

FILM HANDLING APPARATUS 1o seets-sheet 7 Filed Sept. 2l, 1940 IN V EN TORI. OLIVER WHITWELL WILSON WARREN DUNIMM F05 TER.

I ATTORNEX June 13, 1944. o. w. WILSON ETAL 2,351,083

l FILM HANDLING APPARATUS 'K Filed Sept. 21, 1940 10. Sheets-Sheet 8 Llvfk w11! F Q 1 24A/@REN DvNHAM fon-na ATTORNEY.

Junel 13, 1944.

o. w. wlLsoN rs1-AL. 2,351,088

FIILMl HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 2l, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTORJ. OL/vs wHfrwfzz w/LsoN gli/RMN olf/MAN FOSTER ATTORNEY June 13, 1944.

O. W. WILSON ETAL FILM HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 21,- 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 IN VEN TORI.

OLIVER W-ITWELL WILSON WARRIN DZ/NHAM FO5TR A T TORNEK Patented June 13, 1944 2,351,088 v FILM HANDLING APPARATUS Oliver Whitweli Wilson, New York, N. Y., and

Warren Dunham Foote Washington Township, Bergen County, N. J.; said Wilson assignor to said Foster Application september 21, 1940, serial No. 357,802

(c1. ss-is) 88 Claims.

Our invention is particularly useful to amateur users.of motion pictures, but its utility is not so limited. Our invention is illustrated as applied to a camera. but it can be used in apparatus for the projection or printing of pictures or for the recording or reproduction of sound either alone or in connection with motion pictures. As is known to those skilled in this art, for most effective use by an amateur, or indeed by a professional, films are preferably contained in separate relatively inexpensive magazines which are loaded at their factories 'by the suppliers of the films. The user merely opens his camera and drops one of these magazines into the compartment therein which is Imade to receive it. Upon the subsequent closing and latching of the cover, in the most advanced apparatus, the lm is thereupon ready for exposure or projection without any handling or manipulation. After the film has been exposed (or projected if in a projector) or, indeed, before complete exposure, the photographer can take this magazine out of his camera and instantly replace it with another. Apparatus making use of magazines have enjoyed wide commercial success throughout the world.

The only objection seriously urged against this type of apparatus is that the magazines may not be universally obtainable and the user may at times find himself in a locality in which he cannot purchase a fresh supply. Also, certain types of films have not in the past been made readily available in magazines although widely sold upon open reels. A primary purpose of our invention is to provide an apparatus which will accommodate interohangeably and alternatively either a film supported within a magazine or one supported upon an open reel thus providing in one apparatus pportunity for enjoying the advantages of both types without the disadvantages of either. In an apparatus constructed according to this invention the user without any manipulation whatever or handling of loose parts or other trouble or the exercise of any skill may employ either type of fllm carrier. No matter which type he uses all that he need do is to place a carrier of either type within the apparatus and proceed exactly as he woulddo if he were using a conventional camera built to accommodate only the particular type of carrier which he was then employing.

One of the chief objections to the use of a lm mounted upon an open reel and not in a magazine is that the user must thread the film by hand into operative relation with the various lm enof feeding. In motion picture apparatus of the type commonly employed, the section of the film at the point of exposure or projection moves intermittently (normally at a rate of sixteen or twenty-four cycles per second) while it is being fed from and to continuously moving delivery and take-up masses. According to the Bundick and Proctor system, as disclosed and broadly claimed in their United States Patent Number 1,944,022

, applied for July 18, 1925, and issued January 16,

1934, compensation for this dierence in the character of the movement is provided by the application of carefully regulated resilientl pressure Ibetween the continuously moving masses upon the delivery and take-up carriers respectively and the section of the film which moves intermittently at the aperture of the gate. The magnitude and frequency of this force must be so calculated that tensioning pressure is applied ln step with the intermittent movement at the aperture. As a result the entire mass of film is maintained under continuous tension and except at the aperture moves continuously but at varying rates of speed. The instrumentalities which apply this compensating eifect to the lrn also act as guides for it. The system of compensation which has been displaced by the Bundick and Proctor system is that of continuously rotating delivery and take-up sprockets with their associated loops of slack iilm. A delivery sprocket continuously draws lm from a delivery support and -feeds it forwardly into a loop whence it is drawn by each intermittently effective pull-down operation of the intermittent claw or sprocket which in turn intermittently delivers the section of film which has just been exposed or projected to another loop which is maintained by a continuously rotating sprocket against the holding effect of the teeth of which the take-up support continuously but yieldingly pulls. To thread such apparatus generally it is necessary that the user carefully position the fllm upon each sprocket and manually and accurately preform the two loops. According to the Bundick and he employed either in the apparatus or magazine.

As is well known in the art, amateur lms are made in several widths, those of present commercial importance in the United States being of sixteen millimeters and eight millimeters. Sixteen' millimeter film is exposed and projected in that width. Among the iilms which have been widely sold on open reels for amateur use is the socalled dubleeightf When this 111m is sold for use within a camera it is sixteen millimeters in width and has rows of perforations adjacent each edge. Thereupon two parallel series of pictures running in different directions are successively exposed. The film is then processed and split and joined by-the manufacturer into one of eight millimeters in Width and having only one longitudinal series of stable and visible pictures and a single row of perforations and is so projected by the user. One reason for Athe introduction of the double eight has been the ease of loading b and manipulating in a camera a film of sixteen millimeters in width in comparison with one of half that width. It-will be understood, however, that in order to expose the entire portion of such a lm the user must thread it twice. He first threads it and exposes one series on longitudinal pictures occupying one-half of the available surface. He then opens his camera, removes the take-up reel from the take-up spindle, turns it over, again places it on the delivery spindle, and rethreads the lm through the camera with the previously unexposed portion in position for exposure lso that he may photograph another longitudinal series of pictures adjacent the rst.

v A film of only eight millimeters in width known as a single eight is generally considered too small to be easily manipulated by an amateur, particularly for threading within a camera. If a single eight film merely eight millimeters in width is housed within a magazine, however, these diiiicultiesof threading and handling'are cornpletely overcome, and the user in order to expose a full length of such film' merely drops the magazine in place, closes the cover, and proceeds with his photography. All of the trouble for the amateur of handling a film of extremely narrow width is avoided as well as the necessity for stopping the photography in mid-length and rethreading. I'he initial threading of a single eight within a magazine presents no diculty to the skilled 'employees of the manufacturer who of course may be supplied with all necessary assistance such as xtures. While a single eight film carried by an open reel has proved impracticable, a single eight lm in a magazine is welcomed by the user, The objection to such a magazine, however, is that for commercial reasons it may not be everywhere obtainable and certain manufacturers may withhold some types of their lms from it, although the double eight open reel lm may be purchased anywhere. Another and primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide apparatus which will interchangeably accommodate a double eight lm upon open reels and a single eight film in a magazine.

Throughout this specification and in the appended claims the terms double eight" and sin- 4 gle eight are to be taken as generic and not specific. That is to say, a "double eight lm is to be taken as one of relatively great width, irrespective of any speciiic measurement, which may be cut into a plurality of smaller ribbons to form a single eight film which is one of relatively little width, irrespective of any specific measurement. It will also be understood that since magazines and apparatus as described herein are designed to expose or project lms of this relatively small width and conventional projecting machines are now designed to accommodate a single eight"; this term' is used broadly to include films which may have been originally exposed or printed as a single film of this or other lesser width. It is also to be understood that an important object of this invention isto supply an apparatus which will accommodate lms of diierent Widths, other than the double eight and single eight. For example the constructions which are described and claimed herein may be advantageously employed in Iapparatus in which the user may expose, project or print films of diierent fixed widths such for example as those which are both exposed and projected as sixteen millimeters in Width, eight millimeters, or nine and one-half millimeters, the latter being a standard which While still used extensively in Europe is not now widely commercially employed within the United States..I Also these 4constructions may be advantageously employed with lms differing in respect of other characteristics such for example, as sound and pictorial films, pictorial films, or sound lms, or films having different arrangements of perforations.

As previously stated herein, one of the great advantages of the use of a magazine is that it renders the apparatus self-threading since as the user drops or pushes the magazine into position, the film automatically is placed in full operative relation to the apparatus. It is magazines of these characteristics and advantages and apparatus enabling the user to enjoy them. which preferably are employed in the practice of our invention. Thev term magazine also has been applied to any chamber, generally light-tight,- attachedor attachable to a film handling apparatus and having a spindle (or occasionally two spindles) upon which an open reel of film is placed. A film coiled upon a reel may be mounted upon a spindle in a delivery magazine of this type, the leading end of the film drawn out by hand, threaded by hand into contact with the lm handling members of the apparatus, and then, again as an isolated hand operation, attached to the core of a take-up reel which has been placed upon a spindle within a take-up magazine Alternatively, such magazines" may have two spindles each with an open reel thereon, the film being threaded by hand therebetweenand a loop pulled out and threaded by hand upon the film moving and guiding parts of the apparatus. Often such magazines are bodily attached to the outside of the apparatus with which they are used. With such magazines this invention is not primarily concerned for they act merely as containers which are protective against light or iire or other injury and do not assist in the operation of the apparatus.

In order to accomplish the results herein stated it is highly desirable that both the delivery and take-up masses of the lm be mounted wtihin the magazine independently of the spindles of the apparatus which are used to support open reels. For use in several of the preferred forms of our invention the magazine preferably is formed with a light-tight tube extending through the portion wherein is housed the delivery mass, this tube being slightly larger than the spindle of the apparatus and so positioned that when the magazine is mounted within the iilm compartment as by the devices later described the spindle passes through it without contact. ,On the takeup side we may prefer to support the core for the film by formations extending from a wall of the magazine toward the interior, and cooperating with the core to prevent light leakage, so that the introduction of a take-up spindle of the apparatus into the magazine lis not necessary to position the core and in fact does not do so. Upon the inside of this core we may provide means to grip the spindle so that the core is revolved thereby. If the delivery and take-up cores of the magazine rest upon somer part of the magazine when the magazine is not in use but are supported by the spindles of the apparatus as the magazine is inserted into the apparatus, the cores are forced into contact with portions of the interior of the magazine so that undue friction resuits or alternatively the user must by hand manipulate the cores and spindles into a predetermined relation or add other hand operations. Among the important objects of this invention is to avoid as much manipulation as is possible.

Another and important object of this invention therefore is to provide interchangeable apparatus in the o-peration of which the user will not nd need for hand manipulation or complication or difficulty and also to provide apparatus which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

If a user employs a magazine when he wishes togchange from one type of film to another as for example from color to black and white, or from a fast expensive panchromatic to a slow inexpensive orthochromatic, he merely opens his camera and takes out one magazine and replaces it with another. In this process, if a light trap is provided, he spoils no film at all, and, if one is not provided, he spoils only a few exposures. If, however, he wishes to change from one type of film to another when he is employing an open reel, he must go into the darkroom and reel up the film upon one of the two reels and then put in the other film. There is, therefore, a danger that particularly when a user is supplied with a camera which interchangeably accommodates magazines and open reels he may inadvertently open the cover when an open reel is in position, thereby spoiling a large section of his lm. Such an accident would be particularly disastrous with the double eight, for in this instance the user would spoil not only the picture which he had just taken, but if at that time he was exposing the second longitudinal series of images, he would ruin the first Series which perhaps he had taken sometime previously which might have been irreplaceable. v

An important object of this invention is to avoid the above possibility by providing a lock for the latch of the cover which is automatically rendered effective when an open reel is placed in position so that the cover cannot be opened'thereafter except following a separate and special manipulation. Preferably, the special means for releasing the lock for the latch includes a member visible in the dark but incapable of fogging the film. Also we may provide mechanism which marks the film upon open reels at the point at which the release for the latch has been operated so that the user later easily may replace it in the camera with the section immediately following that which was last exposed in position for exposure. As a supplement or alternatively, we may provide a visible signal which indicates whether a magazine or an open reel is in position within the apparatus.

In the practice of this invention compensating and guiding elements or either thereof necessary for use with a film supported by open reels are normally positioned within a compartment wherein alternatively a magazine is housed. The mere act of placing a'magazine within this compartment is sufficient to remove these elements from the compartment, thereby clearing it for the reception of the magazine. Subsequently the removal of the magazine causes the reappearance of these elements in the film compartment ready for use by a film upon open reels. Certain guiding elements necessary for a film whether upon an open reel or within a magazine are permanently positioned within the compartment and adapted to cooperate with a film upon either type of support. As shown, also, the film gate and that part thereof which determines the focal plane are permanently housed within the apparatus. As previously stated, these compensating members, which are automatically removed and reinstated by the movement of the magazine, may be either of the Bundick and Proctor type or the conventional type employing sprockets with their associated loops of slack film.

Certain apparatus now on the market accommodating very small films is not supplied with any means for compensating for the difference in character of movement between the continuously moving delivery and take-up masses and the intermittently moving section of the film therebetween. Instead, the pull-down claw works directly against the entire delivery mass and the take-up mass winds directly against the teeth of the pull-down. It is to be noted, however, that the tensioning members which we described herein also act as guides, which are necessary even in such incompletely developed apparatus as those which dispense with compensating mechanisms. Consequently an important Object of this invention is to provide interchangeable apparatus in which guides necessary for one type of film are automatically removed from the way of another type of film as by the introduction of the carrier therefor into the apparatus and reinserted into operative position by its removal.

Another object of this invention is to provide a vfilm handling apparatus of such characteristicsthat without any movement of any of the parts, a film supported upon open reels may be brought into engagement with film engaging instrumentalities which are necessary for it but so disposed that they do not interfere with an alternative use of a magazine which carries other instrumentalities necessary for a film supported therein. Preferably in this form of our invention certain of the film engagingelements of the apparatus are adapted to use with a film supported in either manner.

Among the objects of this invention, therefore, is the provision of two alternatively usable film channels, one for a film supported upon open reels and one for a film housed in a magazine.

others fixed, or all may be fixed. Some guiding means may be mounted within the magazine and when it is inserted in its compartment in the apparatus may cooperate with other guides therein to define a channel for such a lm.

An object of this invention, therefore, is the provision ofy a unitary lrn compartment so designed and equipped that it can,be used interchangeably for a film coiled upon an open reel or one housed within a magazine, the necessary adjustments preferably being made automatically. .f

Another object of our invention is the provision of improved film magazines and improved apparatus for their reception and for the handling of a film supported therein. Another object is the provision of improvements in film handling apparatus. Y

Still other objects include the provision of apparatus having a film-receiving chamber from which film-moving members, film-compensating members and film-guiding members, or any and all thereof, may be removed and reinstated either automatically or manually.

Another object of our invention is to` provide lm handling apparatus in which film-engaging members may be operative in one position directly to engage and advance a film having certain characteristics and in another position to operate another similar member so thatit may accomplish the same or a similar result upon a film having other characteristics. `To accomplish this result, a sprocket for a double eight film which is depressed out of the film compart` tion contrary to that in which the open reel is driven. The take-up spindle upon which is wound a film such as the double eight which is designed to be run through the apparatus twice must be rotated in the same direction as that in which the delivery reel is rotated, since after -the exposure or showing of one set of images the take-up reel is reversed and placed upo'nthe delivery spindle for the exposure or showing of the other set of images. In certain magazines in commercial use the take-up mass is similarly rotated, but in magazines of the Morsbach type such as illustrated in United States Patents Number 2,175,538 dated October 10, 1939, and Number 2,159,998 dated May 30, 1939, and widely I used throughout the world the take-up mass is vopen reels and of another type housed within f a magazine. Ou:` invention may be equally well applied, however, to apparatus adapted for the interchangeable reception and handling of films Y of different types mounted upon open reels. In a preferred embodiment we show films of different characteristics mounted respectively upon open reels. The introduction of a. reel for a film its compartment. Such mounting means, if de sired, especially cooperates with the improved magazine structure previously described, notably the mounting means for the delivery and takeup means therewithin. Another object of this rotated in the opposite direction. That is to say,

In all but one of the embodiments of this invention we show films of one type mounted upon Consequentlyv in one embodiinvention is to provide mounting means fora magazine which also serves as a guide upon which a film-engaging member necessary for a film supported upon open reels may be bodily moved out of the way of the magazine upon its insertion.

In one embodiment of the invention latches which hold the magazine in position within the compartment are rendered operative and inoperative by the latch for the cover of the apparatus so that as the cover is fixed in closed' position the holding devices are rendered operative and when the latch is released preparatory to the opening of the cover the magazine is also automatically released. Also we may prefer to form and position certain elements of the mechanism which includes compensating members movable by the introduction of a magazine to assist in maintaining that magazine in operative position after the compensating members have been removed thereby accomplishing two functions by one element. In a modification these holding or latching means within the compartment are themselves resilient and tend to overcome manufacturing inequalities between various magazines. Also we provide unitary spring means 'mounted upon the cover which position a magazine in two planes by the mere act of closing the cover.

Other objects, advantages, and characteristics will be evident from the following portion of this specification, the accompanying drawings, and the subjoined claims. Although We are showing preferred forms only of our invention for purposes of illustration,v it will be understood that changes can readily be made without departing from the scope of our broader claims or the spirit of our invention.

In the drawings:

Figures 1a and 1b should be jointly considered. Figure 1a is an isometric View, partially broken away, of a film handling apparatus with the cover ofa film compartment open. Figure 1b is an isometric view of a film carrying magazine about to be inserted in the film compartment of Figure 1a.

Figure 2 is a vertical view, partially in sectio and partially broken away, looking forwardly showing the film compartment with a magazine inserted therein.

Figure 3 is a view, partially in section and partially brokenaway, similar to Figure 2 in which open reels are inserted in the film compartment. For clarity the driving mechanism is omitted.

Figure 4 is a vertical side view, partially in section, corresponding to Figure 1a but in greater detail and also showing among other features compensating mechanism in the form of spring tension arms for films carried upon open reels, an automatic lock for the latch Vfor the cover operable only with open reels,and a release for this latchv lcoupled with means for marking the lm when the release is operated.

Figure 5 is a detailed view of a spring tension arm for use with film upon open reels taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure A6 is a vertical side view of an apparatus embodying a modified construction of a film compartment and arrangement of compensating mechanism in 'the form of spring-controlled oscillating tension arms for a film upon open reels, these arms being mounted in the compartment against bodily movement relatively thereto, and an improved magazine for use with the above.

Figure 6a (ninth sheet) shows in fragmentary form a modification of Figure 6 in which the tension arms are hinged and depressed by the insertion of a magazine within a film compartment.

Figure 7 is a vertical side view such as Figure 6 and shows a modified construction of spring tension arms for a film upon open reels.

Figure 7a is a detail of a spring tension arm such as shown in Figure 7 taken upon the line 'la-1a of Figure 7 and lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Figure '7b (ninth sheet) shows a bodily 'movable mounting for the tension arms as shown in Figure '7 in which they are depressed by the insertion of a magazine within a film compartment.

Figure 8 is a vertical side view partially in section of a film compartment showing a further modification of a film compartment and resilient compensating and guiding arms and their control adapted for a film upon open reels.

Figure Ba (seventh sheet) is a vertical side View similar to Figure 8. This modification shows sprockets replacing the spring tension arms of Figure 8.

Figure 9 is a vertical side View partially in section of a nlm compartment showing a modified construction and arrangement of tension arms as compensating and guiding elements for a lm upon open reels and a lock for a latch.

Figure 10 is a view, partially in section, taken along the line lil-I0 of Figure 9 and looking upwardly and in the direction of the arrows. For clarity parts of the apparatus are broken away and the driving gear train omitted.

Figure 10a is a View, partially in section, similar to Figure 10 in which the pressure of a magazine renders a latch lock inoperable.

Figure 11 is a detailed isometric View of the latch and its control as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10.

Figure 12 is a partial detailed view, similar to Figure 10a, showing an embodiment of our invention in which the resilient guiding members as shown in Figure 9 are manually moved into a recess before the insertion of a magazine within the film compartment.

Figure 13 is a detailed view of tension arms for a film upon open reels showing a modification of the structure of Figures 9 and 10 and with a take-up rotates in the direction opposite to that of an open reel, the insertion of the magazine depressing a take-up spindle for the open reel and moving tension arms for the open reel out of the way of the magazine and releasing an auxiliary latch lock.

Figure 15 is a section taken on the line l5-|5 of Figure 14 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 16 is a vertical side view, partially in y section and partially broken away, of an apparatus with continuously driven sprockets for unsupported loops of slack film carried on open reels and showing means whereby by the insertion of a magazine the sprockets are moved out of its way into recesses and also showing a lock for a latch of the type illustrated in Figures 9 and 10.

Figure 17 is a side view, partially broken away and partially in section, of a modified construction of a magazine in which resilient guiding and compensating members such as illustrated in Figure 1a are replaced by continuously driven sprockets.

Figure 18 'is a side view, partially in section, which illustrates a modification of our invention in which continuously driven sprockets are depressible by the insertion of a magazine.

Figure 18a is a section taken on the line |8a-l8a of Figure 18 and looking in the direc- -tion of the arrows.

Figure 18b is a view similar to Figure 18a showing a magazine with continuously driven sprockets of the type illustrated in Figure 17 inserted within a film compartment of the type illustrated in Figures 18 and 18a. Figure 19 is a view similar te Figures 18a and 18h but showing means for driving the sprockets of a magazine by their direct engagement with driven sprockets within the body of the apparatus after the sprockets of the apparatus are depressed by the insertion of the magazine.

Figure 20 is a vertical side view of a film compartment in which iilms of different widths supported on reels of different dimensions may be interchangeably inserted in a single apparatus, the insertion of one of the reels being effective to move the compensating and guiding means for another film out of the way.

Figure 20a is a view partially in section taken on the line 20a-20a of Figure 20 and looking in the direction o1 the arrows.

Figure 21 is a view partially in section and partly broken away, showing a latch-lock, similar to that of` Figures 4. and 9, but directly controlled by the placing of an open reel upon a spindle. Figure 21a is a section taken on the'line 2|a-2 la of Figure 2l and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figures 22 and 22a are views, largely in section, taken on the line 22-22 of Figure 21 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Figure 22 shows an open reel in position and Figure 22a a magazine.

Figure 23 is an elevation of a spindle such as shown in Figures 21, 22 and 22a.

Figure 24 shows a modication of the magazine mounting latch of Figures 1a and 2.

Other objects of our invention are to provide apparatus of the types and accomplishing the results described above and illustrated in the said drawings.

We illustrate our invention as applied to a lm handling apparatus, in this instance a camera. This camera may consist of a substantially quadrilateral casing F with a cover member II, hinged at I2, which closes over a illm compartment I3 into which a user may alternatively insert open reels I4 shown in dashed lines in Figure 1a, or a magazine I5. Within the casing F are two bearing plates which make up the main frame, one I6 located adjacent the inside surface of the bottom of the film compartment I3 and a second I1 positioned within the interior of the `casing. If desired, the plate I6 may be omitted and the bottom of the compartment may serve l instead.

Driving mechanism of the camera (see Figure 2) may consist of a coiled spring I8 housed within a cylindrical casing I9 which is mounted on a driving gear 20 as by bolts 2 I. The coiled spring I8 is mounted on a shaft 22 and is wound by means of a handle 23. The wound spring I8 is held by a ratchet, or other conventional means, not shown.

Ihe main driving gear 20 engages a pinion 25 mounted on a shaft 26 which rotates in a bearing 21 mounted onplate I1. A gear 28 with a collar 29 is fastened to the shaft 26 as by a set screw casing F. Mounted on and driven by4 shaft 6I is a disc 65 with an eccentrically rotating pin 66 which drives a suitably shaped feeding claw rocking lever 61 having a slot 58 which slides and rocks on a fixed fulcrum pin 59 mounted on plate I6 and having a suitably shaped feeding claw or tooth 60 at its other end. all as best shown in Figure 1a. Rotation of the pin 56 by the uncoiling of the spring I8 gives an intermittent feeding motion to the claw 60. In case films having differing arrangements of perforations are used, the stroke of the feeding claw may be varied as Well known in the art, mechanism for securing such variation forming no part of the present invention.

As previously indicated, our invention may be applied to apparatus for sound reproduction, such as a film playing phonograph. It will be readily understood that in such instances a continuously operating film advancing member will be substituted for the above-described intermittent pull-down. Consequently in the claims the term intermittent pull-down is to be takento include a member which continuously advances a film, as for sound reproduction or recordation.

A second disc 6I mounted on pin 56 carries a second eccentric pin 62 moving downwardly and 30 and rotates co-axially with pinion 25 and with a suitable take-up slip-drive clutch. Two discs 3i and 32 are separated by a suitable friction material 33 and mounted on shaft 26. A pressure bearing surface 34 on a bearing plate 35 is mounted upon the plate I6 as by bolts 36 surrounded by coiled springs 31. 'Pressure adjusting nuts 38 threaded upon screws 36 provides adjustable operating pressure for disc 32. Mounted upon disc 32 and rotating in a suitable bearing in plate I6 is a take-up spindle 39 with a lug 40 for engaging a usual formation upon open reels I4 or upon a support for a take-up mass of lm in a magazine, although, as later stated, We prefer, a friction grip. Through this mechanism the power of the spring I8 is frictionally applied to a take-up mass. For convenience, we apply the reference character 8f to a film of narrow width such as the sort known in the trade as a single eight and 88f to that of broader width such as the sort known as double eight, and the character f to a film generically, single and double eight having been previously defined.

Gear 28 drives a pinion 45 mounted on a governor shaft 46 rotating in a suitable bearing 41 in plate I1 and a bearing, not shown, in plate I6. A suitable speed controlling brake or governor not shown of any desired type, such for example as that shown in United States Patent Number 1,897,762 to Morsbach dated February 14, 1933, may be used.-

An intermittent feeding mechanism and shutter will next be described. Gear 28 also drives a pinion 50 inounted on an intermittent drive shaft 5I which is rotated by gear 28 in the direction shown by the arrow on Figure 1a. Shaft 5I rotates in a bearing 53 which may be mounted on plate I1 and a bearing 54 shown on the camera upwardly as shown in the drawings in a plane parallel to the focal plane of the apparatus. A long shutter arm or blade 63, Vshown broken away in l'igure` la, formed with a bifurcation 64 is driven and guided by a shoulder 65 of the pin 62. Pins 56 and 62 move the shutter blade 63 and the feeding claw 60 in synchronization. A positioning pin 66 is normally held in engagement with a perforation 61 of the fllm 8f or 88j by means of a spring 68. This positioning pin may be moved out of `engagement, with the lm by any suitable means such as those illustrated in United States Patent Number 2,175,538, Figure 2, issued October 10, 1939, upon application of Kurt Morsbach et al.

The film feeding mechanism is started or stopped by the release or engagement of alug 69 on the periphery of a disc 10 mounted on shaft 6I with a projection 1| on a control arm 12 which may be operated from the outside of the apparatus by any desired or suitable means such as those shown in United States Patent Number 1,960,062, issued May 22, 1934, upon application of Kurt Morsbach et al.

, The feeding claw 60 intermittently moves a film' f through a gate which, we prefer, should consist of a fixed front section 15 formed with an exposure opening 16 and a movable back section 11 carrying a spring-pressed plate 18. It will be understood that this gate structure guides both films 8f and 88j. 1f films having other dimensional characteristics are to be used, the gate structure may be constructed as well known in this art, for example as taught in Patent Number 2,087,250, issued July 20, 1937, to Warren Dunham Foster. All film engaging members whether of the apparatus onof various types of magazines later described are suitably relieved so that the image-carrying portion of the film is not scratched. 1n many instances for clarity this relief is not shown. Simultaneously with this intermittent movement through the gate' the nlm is unwound from a delivery spindle 19 and coiled upon a take-up spindle 39. So that the iilm may be wound backwardly upon the delivery spindle, in order that dissolves may be made by the user, for example, a lug is provided adapted to engage a usual formation not shown upon the interior vof a reel or other film support later described. The delivery spindle 19 may be driven backwardly by engagement between a slot 8| in its outward end and a driving lug 82 mounted on a back-winding button 83 mounted exteriorly of the cover (Figure 3) and normally spring-held in inoperative position.

A conventional lens is shown at 85. An enclosed sighting tube 86 passes between an observation opening 81 at the back of the case f and a finder element 88 adjacent the lens.

A latch 90 operated by a button 9| movable against the pressure of a spring 92 engages a suitable projection 93 mounted on the cover for holding it closed and the apparatus light-tight. Engagement between a V-shaped projection 94 and a V-shaped notch 95 formed in a spring 96 fastened to the case F holds the latch in unlocked position. This latch may move the back or movable portion of the gate l1 as taught in United States Patent Number 2,029,736, issued February 4, 1936, upon application of Morsbach et al. A slide |00, integral with the movable gate section 11, moves in a recess in the floor of the film compartment |3 and upon bearing plate I6 and is guided by pins |02 with shoulders |03 which are movable in T-shaped slots |04 in bearing plate I6. If it is desired to remove the movable gate section 11 from the film compartment for cleaning or otherwise, a stop pin |05 is manually depressed against the pressure of spring |06 suitably fastened to plate I6, thus permitting slide |00 to be moved over the head of pin I 05 and permitting the shoulders .|03 to pass freely through the heads of the slots |04 whereby the movable gate section 11 and the slide |00 may be removed from the apparatus as for cleaning. A slide |01 with a bifurcation |08 is moved in a vertical plane by a projection |09 extending from the latch 90, and is guided in a direction normal to the focal plane of the camera by a slot ||0 through which passes the pin |05. lA slot on the slide |01 set at a suitable angle engages one of the pins |02 and, as the slide |01 is operated by the latch, the camming action of the slot moves the movable section 'l1 of the gate into or out of operative position thereby opening or closing the gate. At its outward end slot has a recess H2 which permits the shoulder |03 of the rearward pin |02 to pass through freely when slide l 90 is removed from the apparatus. A projecting arm i3 of slide |01, shown broken ofi" in Figure 4, with a suitable offset not shown may engage the projection 99 on the stop disc lil of the intermittent drive shaft thus preventing movement of the feeding claw and the driving mechanism while the re r gate section is in inoperativev position.

There will now be described a magazine suitable for use within the film handling apparatus previously described. We prefer to employ a magazine embodying the Bundick and Proctor 'tension' control system of feeding as broadly described and claimed in United States Patent Number 1,944,022, dated January 16, i934. In a pre- .e'rrediform of our invention we show a magazine lo' exemplifying the form of this system taught by States Patent Numbers 2,159,998, dated May 30,' i939, and 2,175,538, dated October l0, i939, both'issued upon applications of et al. This magazine (see Figure 1b) is in effect a'quaclrilateralr box with rounded top and bottom rear cornersmade of metal or of other suitable material such as a plastic and consisting of a body member and a light-proofing cover H6. The film extends across a gate-receiving recess 1.

Morsbach Within the magazine are a. delivery core ||8 from which the fllmis unwound, a take-up core ||9 to which the film is attached and upon which it is wound, a resilient delivery tensioning member |20, a delivery guiding channel |2|, a. take-up guiding channel |22, and a resilient take-up tensioning and compensating member |23. In Figure lb the film 8f is shown in' dot and dash line both in mass around the two cores and passing through the gate-receiving recess ||1.

A light-tight tube |24 passes through the magazine on the delivery side and includes at the lower or inner end an enlargement |25. The inside diameter of this tube is larger than the outside diameter of the spindle 19 and the enlargement |25 clears the driving lug 90. The core ||8 is very loosely mounted upon the outer surface of this tube which therefore serves as a bearing therefor. This core may be split and then joined or may be placed within the magazine.before the tube is introduced.

The take-up core ||9 is irregularly shaped as best shown in Figure 2 and is supported upon flanges |26 and |21 extending inwardly from the side walls of the magazine and cooperating with the core to form a light-tight passage through the magazine. If, as we may prefer, the take-up core is made out of a resilient metal, driving lugs or protuberances |28 are struck inwardly to grip the spindle 39. Alternatively if the core is unylelding, these driving members may be made of spring material and fastened upon the core as by spot welding.

As the magazine is placed in position in the compartment, the spindle 19 passes through the tube |24 without contact therewith and the spindle 39 passes through the opening in the core H8, the driving members |28 gripping its surfor a film mounted upon open reels but face. It will be understood that no hand manipulation of any kind is required from the operator. The magazine is so constructed that the nlm bridges the gate-receiving recess ||1. As the magazine is placed in its compartment, mounting means, later described, both guide the magazine into proper position and hold it there thereafter, the lm being directed betweenfthe gate sections and the two spindles necessarily being inserted into the openings in the magazine made to receive them and thereafter held in proper relation thereto.

As shown in Figures la, 2, 3, 4 and 5, we provide Within the nlm compartment i3 of the film handling apparatus compensating mechanism of the Bundick and Proctor type which is available is automatically moved out of the Way upon the insertion of a, magazine, the magazine preferably having its own compensating mechanism. One of these compensating mechanisms is disposed upon each side of the gate. Each may consist of a xed post 39 suitably fastened to plate i1 at 53| and held rmly in position during the operation of the apparatus by a recessed boss 13E mounted on cover il. Sleeve i3@ on the delivery unit and sleeve i3d on the take-up unit are free to slide on posts 30 and are normally held in operative position for lm on open reels by coil springs |35.

ResilientJ tensioning and guiding members |36 of suitable curvature and of suitable spring material are mounted on sleeves |33 and |34 and engage the film 88j as it passes between open reels I4 as shown in Figure 4. Sleeves |33 and i34 are free to rotate on the posts |30 and the resilient members |36 to vibrate freely between film edge guiding plates |31 disposed at the floor I3 of the nlm compartment and |38 adjacent to the cove: These edge guides are kept at the desired distance apart and interconnected. by separator rods |39 which also act as stops for the resilient members |36. Suitable guiding projections |40 struck in the bottom edge guides |38 prevent the compensating members |36 when free of nlm tension from swinging beyond the protection of the edge guides |31 and |38. It should bev noted that in Figure 1a for purposes of clarity only we show the delivery compensating unit as in depressed and inoperative position and the take-up compensating unit in extended or operative position. It is of course to be understood that in practice they are both disposed in either operative or inoperative position at the same time. These guiding plates |31 and |38 are of similar isa'utomatically released and conveniently positioned for its removal from the film compartment. It will be seen, therefore, that the catches |48 and posts |30, which nt into appropriate openings in the magazine, cooperate with the walls of the nlm-receiving compartment to furnish means for mounting a magazine therewithin.

shape. When the resilient compensating members are in the position shown in Figure 5 (and upon the take-up side of Figure la) adapted for -open reels, the upper portion of plates |31 project above the floor of the film compartment |3 and the adjacent plate |6 while the lower por- -tions t Within similarly shaped openings |4| therein. The resilient members and plates |31 and |38 pass freely through these openings when depressed by the insertion of a magazine.

In Figures 1a and 1b, which as stated should be considered as a unit, we illustrate a magazine being introduced'into a nlm compartment I3 of a film handling apparatus in which the movable rear gate section 11 has been moved into open or inoperative position. It will of course be understood that the reels will have been removed. The direction of movement of the magazine l5 into the film compartment |3 is indicated by dash lines connecting Figure lb to Figure la. As the magazine is introduced into the film compartment, core l8 of the magazine fits over delivery spindle 18 of the film handling apparatus and similarly core ||9 fits over the take-up spindle 39. Openings |45 and |46 on the body of the magazine and on the cover respectively on either sidev of the gate recess ||1 t around the xed posts |30, and, as the magazine is pressed into the compartment, the bottom of the magazine presses against the sides of lm edge guiding plates |38 which are relatively adjacent the cover and thereby move both of the lm tensioning units below the floor of the film compartment and into the portion of the apparatus between 2 and 3, arms |49, which project in a plane pary allel to the focal plane, are struck at right angles to the slide |01 which is actuated by the opening or closing of the latch 90. These arms |49, when the latch is released and the gate opened, engage and move suitable shaped projections |50 struck in the spring catches |48 downwardly and' out of engagement with the cover I6 of the magazine. In this way as ejecting pressure of the coil springs |35 push the open reel film guiding units upwardly into position suitable for the use of open reels, the magazine It will also be observed that the operable elements of the mounting means are controlled concomitantly with the operation ofthe gate. We are not limited to such mounting means, however, Springs, as well known in the art, may be placed upon the cover or one or more of the walls of the lm compartment, or the special springs shown in Figures 13a, 13b and 13e may be employed. Also, the improved resilient latches or catches` shown in Figure 24, controlled as described above, maybe substituted `for the catches |48.

As previously pointed out in an apparatus such as this in which both a magazine and open reels may be used interchangeably there is danger that the user may open his camera thinking that he has a magazine in place when in reality he is employing a film wound upon open reels, thus fogglng a large portion of the film. We now describe means for preventing this difllculty.` As shown particularly in Figures 4, 9, and 12, we lock the latching mechanism of the cover of the film compartment automatically by the tension imposed upon a lm by thestarting of a feeding operation in which a lm carried upon open reels is utilized. Thereafter the. user can employ the regular latch for opening the film compartmentI only by making use of a special releasing mechan nism for that purpose. Thus we positively prevent the user from inadvertently fogging a film.

The lm 08f passes from a delivery reel I4, mounted upon a delivery shaft 19, over a resilient delivery compensating film-engaging guide |36, between gate sections 15 and 1B, over a resilient take-up compensating film-engaging guide |36, and upon a take-up reel |-4 which is mounted upon take-up spindle 39. As the intermittent claw 60 starts to move the film through the gate after the release of the stop 1| from engagement with the disc 10 mounted upon the intermittent drive shaft 5|, tension is created between the gate and the delivery reel. As previously described, the guide |36 is mounted for bodily movement upon a collar |33 which in turn is positioned about the fixed rod |30. Collar`|33 has an extension |5| of smaller diameter projecting downwardly from the lm edge guiding a plate |31. An operating arm |54 is xed upon this extension. As the guide |36 is placed under` tension operating arm |54 is rotated about the fixed rod |30 as an axis in the direction of the arrow upon Figure 4. A projection |55 at the radial end'of this arm thereupon engages a bevelled depending lug |56 formed upon one end of a bell crank |51. This crank pivots on a fixed pin |58 and is formed with an upwardly extending stop |59 which abuts upon the upper wall of the interior of the lm compartment kI3 and a depending leg |60 from the lower end ofwhich a blocking formation projects. This formation consists of a blocking surface |6| and a resilient catch |62 with a V-shaped projection |63. When tension is rst applied to the film as above, the arm |55 moves the lug |56 in the direction of the arrow of Figure 4 rotationally around the pin |58 and the V-shaped projection |63 engages a correspondingly shaped notch |64 which is formed in a projection |65 from the latch slide 90. Simultaneously the blocking projection |6| passes into blocking relation with a cooperating formation |68 which extends to the left as viewed in Figure 4 from the p blocking formation |66 of the latch slide 98. Si-

multaneously an unlocking lug |81 upon the upper portion o! the depending leg of the bell crank is brought into engagement with a collar |18 fastened to a shaft |1|. In this specification, the word lug is employed to include either a separate piece added to a moving member or a formation stamped or formed in such member. It is by the above mechanism that the latch 80 is locked against accidental opening while lightsensitive lm is in use within the apparatus.

To release this lock for the latch so that the cover may be Aopened in the usual way, an auxiliary release mechanism is provided. Button |12 4is housed within a recess |13 and is held in operative position by a spring |14 acting against collar fastened to rod |1| upon which the button is mounted. When the button |12 is pressed inwardly the collar |10 which has been brought into contact with the unlocking lug |61 by the previous rotation of crank |51, moves the crank anti-clockwise 'thereby breaking the enga ement between the stopping formations |62 and 64 and thus making it possible for the user to operate the latch 90 without interference.

As an additional safeguard and to encourage the use of this safety device only in the dark room, the unlatching button |12 preferably may be positioned behind leather or other material |15 which has sufficient elasticity to permit the button to be depressed. Alternatively the button |12 may be hidden in an ornamental design or disguised as desired. In order that the button may be easily located within a dark room we may apply a luminous spot |16 on the material |16 or directly on the button |12 in cases in which the material is not employed, this luminous spot being of a well known type whichin normal light cannot be seen but glows phosphorescently in the dark.

, When a magazine is inserted into the film compartment, the arm |55 together with the associated tension-controlling mechanism is depressed and consequently disengaged from the lug |56 on crank |51. To make this disengagement and subsequent engagement easier the engaging surface of arm |56 as well as the lug |51 may be bevelled.

As an adjunct to the above lock or independently thereof if desired, We may provide a signal which always indicates to the operator whether he is using a iilm carried by open reels or one protected by a magazine. a projection |11 of the arm |60 of the bell crank |51 extends at -right angles thereto within the body of the 'camera and to the wall of the case opposite the cover A formation |18 normal to the projection |11 and parallel to the wall has on its outer surface suitable indicia to give through a window |19 on the case F suitable indication as to which type of film support is in use` A red indication may be shown when a reel is in use and the lock for the latch is in locking position and a green indication when a magazine is inserted in the apparatus and the latch-lock is inoperative. Alternatively or in addition `words such as magazine and reel" may be used. It will be noted also that under the above arrangement the signal appears green when no film is within the magazine and the cover may be safely opened.

In order that the operator after he has removed the film upon open reels before complete use may As shown in Figure 4,

readily and correctly re-thread the nlm with the same portion at the aperture of the gate, we provide simple means for punching a mark or signal in the film by the release of the lock for the latch winch is necessarily precedent to the removal of the film from the apparatus. Rod |1| extends toward the front or left-end portion of the film handling apparatus, where by a nut |80 it is loosely connected to a lug |8| formed in the upper portion of a light flat lever |82, pivoted upon a pin |93 and terminating downwardly in a V-shaped knife |84, which, when moved to the right, as viewed in Figure 4, passes through an opening |85 in the fixed section 15 of the gate through the film and into a depression |86 in the pressure plate 18 carried by the movable gate section 11. It will be readily understood, therefore, that movement of the button |12 to unlock the latch automatically causes the lmife |84 to make a small identifying hole or notch in the film. The spring |14 immediately returns the knife |84 to inoperative position.

While we may prefer to use the above described lock for the latch and the automatic marking means with the other elements of the invention described herein, it will be readily understood that such joint use is not necessary and that the other elements of the invention may be used without the latch-lock and the identifying means, and that the latch-lock and identifying means or either alone may be used independently of the remainder of the invention.

In the previous portion of this specification we have described preferred forms of our invention in which We dispose tension controlling mechanism within a film compartment for use with open reels, but automatically remove such mechanism by the insertion of a magazine. We shall now describe, and we illustrate in Figures 6, 7, 7a, 8 and 8a, other preferred forms of our invention in which the compensating mechanism is disposed either outside of the compartment within which a magazine is placed or within the compartment but out of its way. In these forms of the invention, the film when supported upon open reels is threaded over tension arms which do not encroach upon the space to be occupied by a magazine, but is fed by the same intermittent claw as is employed with a magazine and preferably through the same gate and wound up by the same take-up support.'

In Figure 6 between a delivery support 19 and a claw 60 and adjacent the upper Aleft corner of the film compartment there is positioned a film-engaging and guiding member |9| of a compensating mechanism of the particular Bundick and Proctor type shown in the United States Patent to Proctor Number 1,944,033 dated January 16, 1934. Between a take-up support and the claw and adjacent the lower left hand corner of said compartment is disposed a similar member |92. Each works through arcuate slots |93 and |94 respectively in the floor of the compartment and its adjacent bearing plate. The guide |9| associated with the delivery mass of the film is mounted on a lever |95 suitably pivoted at |96 and provided with a lug |91 from which spring |98 extends to a pin |99 suitably mounted on the bearing plate directly beneath the film compartment |90 floor. A lug 200 may be provided on the lever |95 to engage a suitable projection 26| on a bell crank 2'02, similar to crank |51 heretofore described, to actuate an auxiliary latch-lock in the manner previously described and illustrated in Figure 4. The take-up tension arm |92 is simsen-y mounted on a lever zo: pivoted at 294 and provided with a lug .205 from'- which a tension spring 205 extends toa pin 201 similarly mounted on the bearing 'plate not shown.

For use in such a film compartment a magazine 208 may be provided with chamfered orthe same as that previously described in connection with Figure 1b. It includes tensioning and guiding members. Film 3f is shown in dot and dash lines. When the levers |95 and 203 are free from the tension exerted by a film as it is being fed between open reels, the action of the springs |98 and 206 pulls the guides |9| and |92 toward the top and bottom walls respectively ofthe nlm compartment and the chamfered corners 209 of the magazine 20-8 permit the magazine to be inserted within the film compartment without interference. During the feeding of a film supported upon open reels, however, the guides operate Well within the space otherwise free for the magazine.

The modification shown in Figures '1 and 7a illustrates the employment of simplied unitary compensating members each in the form of a single long leaf spring with a4 supporting portion 2|5 below the film-receiving' compartment and attached to bearing plate 2 |-6 and a delivery film-engaging portion 2| 1 extending through a suitable slo't 2|8 in the floor of the compartment 2|9 and into a position therewithin in which it is adapted to engage a film supported upon open reels |4 between a delivery reel and the gate and a corresponding take-up film engaging portion 220 similarly constructed and functioning and extending through an opening 22| adjacent the take-up. Vertical strengthening ribs 2| pre; vent the traction of the lm from twisting this long leaf spring. 'I'he simplicity and cheapness of this improvement over previously known means for carrying out theBundick and Proctor tension control system of feeding will be evident to those skilled in this art. Neither Adelivery nor take-up supports are shown, but they may be of any suitable type such as those already described. If desired, a lug 223 depending from the delivery end of the spring 2|5 may engagea lug 224 upon a crank 225 corresponding to crank |51 previously described in connection with Figure 4.

A magazine 225 shown in dot and dash lines in Figure 7 may also be of the type previously described in connection with Figure lb, but with chamfered or otherwise suitably shaped corners 221.

In Figure 6a we illustrate an important preferred modification of our invention in which the film-engaging portions of compensating members, mounted upon levers, are so constructed that they are very simply moved out of operative position within the film compartment by the insertion of a magazine. The structure of this modification is closely related to that of Figure 6, but its mode of operation more closely resembles that of the forms of the invention shown in the earlier figures.

AA film-engaging guide 230 may be mounted upon a rst portion 23| of a lever 232 hinged at 233 and pivoted at 234 on the under side of the wall of a lm compartment 235. A spring 236,l passing between a lug 231 in the rightward or back portion of the lever as Viewed in Figure 6a, is fastened to a pin 238 in the under portion of the case of the apparatus. One end of a leaf spring 239 bears against the under side of the por..

tion of the lever carrying the nlm-engaging mein ber 230 while the otherl portion is fastened as b3' a rivet 240 to the rightward portion of the lever. It will thus be readily seen that when a magazine is inserted in its compartment the film-engaging guide 230 will be forced out of theway. When the magazine is removed the spring 239 will return the lever to operative position.

A similar mechanism may. be'supplied for the take-up support. A

A bell crank 24| terminating in a lug 242 engages a projection 243 on the downward side of the pivoted lever, and when the film-engaging member 230 is placed under tension, operates as previously describedv in connection with bell crank |51 of Figure 4 to lock the latch 90 against inadvertent release. y

Figure '1b shows another preferred modificacation of our invention Iin which we employ a magazine which does not have chamfered corners, such for example as those of the type |5 in Figure 1b, and a compensating spring such as that of Figure 7 but recessible as shown in Figure la upon the insertion of the magazine. A long irregularly spaced tensioning spring 245 having film-engaging guides 201" is mounted upon a splined rod 246 which slides through an opening in a collar 241 which is attached to the under portion of a supporting bearing plate 248 disposed underneath the oor of the film compartment. A compression spring 249 is coiled about the rod 246 and, passingfrom the collar 241 to a bracket 250 which extends from the tension arm 245, tends to hold the rod and guides in operative position within the film compartment. As a magazine is put into the compartment, this entire structure is depressed out of the way.` It is, of course, understood that the openings 2|9 and 22| in the floor of the -iilm compartment 2|9 in the embodiment of this invention shown in Figures 7 and 7a will be suiciently large to accommodate the similar nlm-engaging portions as 2 1 and 220 in Figure 7 when they are depressed by the insertion of a magazine.

Included in the above embodiments as illustrated'in Figures 6a and 7b are in eii'ect ejector mechanisms for the magazines. Upon release of the catches |48 which hold a magazine in operative position, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the outward pressure of the springs 239 as shown in Figure 6a and of spring 249 as shown in vFigure 7b will force the magazine outwardly from the respective film compartments, thus facilitating its removal.

In the modication of this invention shown in Figures 8 and 8a, compensating members for use with open reels are disposed within recesses adjacent the gate. These members cooperate with other guiding means with the result that there are provided alternatively available film-guiding channels, one for a lm supported upon open reels and another for a film supported in a magazine, having certain parts in common but having other parts which cooperate only for use with an open reel and others which cooperate only with a magazine.

As shown in Figure 8, a film-receiving compartment 255 is adapted to receive either a film 88) supported upon open reels I4, shown in dot and dash lines, or alternatively a magazine 256, shown in Figure 8 in dotted lines, which may be of the type of Figure 1a. A resilient compensating and guiding member 251, preferably in the form of a leaf spring, is mounted on a post 258, both compensating member and post being disposed within a recess 259 placed between the gate 

